Finding the fighters
Since the election, some legacy media, Democratic electeds, and formerly anti-Trump commentators have been quick to appease Donald Trump and to normalize his proposed nominees and policies. This is sickening. It is craven, unprincipled, and dangerous.
Those of us committed to opposing Republican Fascism must identify and support actors who gathering courage and resources for the struggle. As I find people, causes, and organizations that get it, I will share them here at Heidi Says. I have two so far: Marc Elias and his organization, Democracy Docket; and Biden Publish the ERA, a coalition of groups working to get Biden to direct the U.S. Archivist to publish the Equal Rights Amendment.
Marc Elias is a long-time leading attorney for voting rights and ballot access. I have been acquainted with him and his work since 2008, and he is one of the smartest, shrewdest, and most committed lawyers I know. After a successful career with Perkins Coie, he started his own law firm to dedicated to voting rights and founded Democracy Docket. Yesterday, Marc wrote:
I started Democracy Docket in 2020 because I saw a gap that needed filling. Even as courts and the rules of voting were becoming central to our elections, few legacy media outlets provided the critical information the public needed to stay informed. Democracy Docket was created to be the leading digital news platform dedicated to information, analysis and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts.
In the last few weeks, however, it has become clear that the challenges to democracy are even greater than I feared. Legacy media is in decline. Many of its billionaire owners seek to curry favor with Trump. Even progressive media personalities have shown an inclination to bow down rather than fight.
At the same time, Democracy Docket has become more defiant, more uncompromising and more willing to go it alone. I have realized that one of the advantages it has in this new world is its structure. It has no corporate backers, no private equity or venture capital investors. It has the luxury of being fearlessly independent and unapologetically pro-democracy. Starting today, that is its broader mission.
You can subscribe to Democracy Docket for free. You can make a one time contribution to support its work. You can become a member and get premium content. I’m a member and it is very much worth it.
Biden Publish the ERA is holding Biden’s feet to the fire, insisting that he keep his promise to take the procedural, statutorily defined steps to formalize the ratified ERA as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From the website:
It is quite simple. Once an amendment is ratified, the National Archivist certifies it. President Biden has the authority and responsibility to instruct the National Archivist to publish and certify the ERA. We need Biden to take action and install this critical protection for women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ Americans ahead of Trump’s second administration. But President Biden will only take action if there is a massive grassroots movement pushing him to do the right thing. In the remaining weeks of his presidency, we need to make our demand loud and clear.
Visit the Biden Publish the ERA website to take action and join the push.